Radeon HD 7870 vs RX 460
Aggregate performance score
We've compared Radeon RX 460 and Radeon HD 7870, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.
HD 7870 outperforms RX 460 by a moderate 13% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 432 | 403 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 1.12 | 2.91 |
| Power efficiency | 9.88 | 4.79 |
| Architecture | GCN 4.0 (2016−2020) | GCN 1.0 (2011−2020) |
| GPU code name | Baffin | Pitcairn |
| Market segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release date | 8 August 2016 (8 years ago) | 5 March 2012 (12 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $86 | $349 |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.
HD 7870 has 160% better value for money than RX 460.
Detailed specifications
General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 896 | 1280 |
| Core clock speed | 1090 MHz | 1000 MHz |
| Boost clock speed | 1200 MHz | no data |
| Number of transistors | 3,000 million | 2,800 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 14 nm | 28 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 75 Watt | 175 Watt |
| Texture fill rate | 67.20 | 80.00 |
| Floating-point processing power | 2.15 TFLOPS | 2.56 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 16 | 32 |
| TMUs | 56 | 80 |
Form factor & compatibility
Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Length | 170 mm | 241 mm |
| Width | 2-slot | 2-slot |
| Supplementary power connectors | None | 2x 6-pin |
VRAM capacity and type
Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.
| Memory type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory bus width | 128 Bit | 256 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 1750 MHz | 1200 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 112.0 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |
| Shared memory | - | - |
Connectivity and outputs
Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.
| Display Connectors | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x mini-DisplayPort |
| Eyefinity | - | + |
| HDMI | + | + |
Supported technologies
Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.
| FreeSync | + | - |
API compatibility
List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 12 (12_0) | 12 (11_1) |
| Shader Model | 6.4 | 5.1 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| OpenCL | 2.0 | 1.2 |
| Vulkan | 1.2.131 | 1.2.131 |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
Passmark
This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.
3DMark 11 Performance GPU
3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.
Gaming performance
Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.
Average FPS across all PC games
Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:
| 900p | 70−75
−20%
| 84
+20%
|
| Full HD | 40
−70%
| 68
+70%
|
| 1440p | 28
−7.1%
| 30−35
+7.1%
|
| 4K | 19
−10.5%
| 21−24
+10.5%
|
Cost per frame, $
| 1080p | 2.15 | 5.13 |
| 1440p | 3.07 | 11.63 |
| 4K | 4.53 | 16.62 |
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 34
+21.4%
|
27−30
−21.4%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 30−35
−15.2%
|
35−40
+15.2%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 21−24
−14.3%
|
24−27
+14.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 24−27
−12%
|
27−30
+12%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 30−33
−10%
|
30−35
+10%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 70−75
−12.7%
|
80−85
+12.7%
|
| Hitman 3 | 20−22
−15%
|
21−24
+15%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 55−60
−10.3%
|
60−65
+10.3%
|
| Metro Exodus | 44
+10%
|
40−45
−10%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 30−33
−10%
|
30−35
+10%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 35−40
−11.4%
|
35−40
+11.4%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 65−70
−6.2%
|
65−70
+6.2%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 54
+92.9%
|
27−30
−92.9%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 22
−72.7%
|
35−40
+72.7%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 21−24
−14.3%
|
24−27
+14.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 24−27
−12%
|
27−30
+12%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 31
−6.5%
|
30−35
+6.5%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 70−75
−12.7%
|
80−85
+12.7%
|
| Hitman 3 | 20−22
−15%
|
21−24
+15%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 55−60
−10.3%
|
60−65
+10.3%
|
| Metro Exodus | 35
−14.3%
|
40−45
+14.3%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 30−33
−10%
|
30−35
+10%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 35−40
−11.4%
|
35−40
+11.4%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 27−30
−7.1%
|
30−33
+7.1%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 65−70
−6.2%
|
65−70
+6.2%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 17
−64.7%
|
27−30
+64.7%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 21−24
−14.3%
|
24−27
+14.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 24−27
−12%
|
27−30
+12%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 41
−95.1%
|
80−85
+95.1%
|
| Hitman 3 | 20−22
−15%
|
21−24
+15%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 36
−77.8%
|
60−65
+77.8%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 35−40
−11.4%
|
35−40
+11.4%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 23
+15%
|
20
−15%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 65−70
−6.2%
|
65−70
+6.2%
|
Full HD
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 30−33
−10%
|
30−35
+10%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 21−24
−9.5%
|
21−24
+9.5%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 16−18
−12.5%
|
18−20
+12.5%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−11
−20%
|
12−14
+20%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 7−8
−14.3%
|
8−9
+14.3%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 10−12
−18.2%
|
12−14
+18.2%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 5−6
−20%
|
6−7
+20%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 12−14
−16.7%
|
14−16
+16.7%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 45−50
−18.4%
|
55−60
+18.4%
|
| Hitman 3 | 14−16
−7.1%
|
14−16
+7.1%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 25
+0%
|
24−27
+0%
|
| Metro Exodus | 16−18
−18.8%
|
18−20
+18.8%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 14−16
−26.7%
|
18−20
+26.7%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 10−11
−20%
|
12−14
+20%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 65−70
−11.9%
|
75−80
+11.9%
|
1440p
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 18−20
−11.1%
|
20−22
+11.1%
|
4K
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 13
+18.2%
|
10−12
−18.2%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 8−9
−12.5%
|
9−10
+12.5%
|
| Hitman 3 | 7−8
−14.3%
|
8−9
+14.3%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 45−50
−19.1%
|
55−60
+19.1%
|
| Metro Exodus | 9−10
−22.2%
|
10−12
+22.2%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 12
+20%
|
10−11
−20%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 6−7
−16.7%
|
7−8
+16.7%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 5−6
+0%
|
5−6
+0%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 5−6
−20%
|
6−7
+20%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 1−2
−100%
|
2−3
+100%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 6−7
+0%
|
6−7
+0%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 12−14
−23.1%
|
16−18
+23.1%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 8−9
−25%
|
10−11
+25%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 4−5
−25%
|
5−6
+25%
|
4K
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 10−11
−10%
|
10−12
+10%
|
This is how RX 460 and HD 7870 compete in popular games:
- HD 7870 is 20% faster in 900p
- HD 7870 is 70% faster in 1080p
- HD 7870 is 7% faster in 1440p
- HD 7870 is 11% faster in 4K
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the RX 460 is 93% faster.
- in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the HD 7870 is 100% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- RX 460 is ahead in 6 tests (8%)
- HD 7870 is ahead in 63 tests (88%)
- there's a draw in 3 tests (4%)
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 10.63 | 12.02 |
| Recency | 8 August 2016 | 5 March 2012 |
| Chip lithography | 14 nm | 28 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 75 Watt | 175 Watt |
RX 460 has an age advantage of 4 years, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 133.3% lower power consumption.
HD 7870, on the other hand, has a 13.1% higher aggregate performance score.
The Radeon HD 7870 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon RX 460 in performance tests.
Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
Comparisons with similar GPUs
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
